Looking for information on exercise psychology? Below you will find current and professional exercise psychology articles from IDEA's award-winning publications.

Many fitness facility members look to group fitness instructors for cues on how to exercise and live a healthy lifestyle. However, these role models may have—or be at an increased risk for—eating disorders, body dissatisfaction and compulsive exercise.

Do some of your clients want to enjoy the benefits of weight loss without expending any effort? They’re not alone in wishing for the rewards without the work!
A Harris-Weight Watchers survey found that most women believe the greatest payoffs to thinness are better and lasting health, more energy and higher esteem. But the survey also found that general inertia keeps many overweight women from having the thinner body they want. (That’s why they need personal trainers like you!)

“Ellen” had great success with her low-carbohydrate diet. She lost 14 pounds in 5 weeks and felt like she was in control. No longer was she a slave to the chocolate chip cookie binge that had been her evening ritual. She was proud that she had exercised every day, waking up muscles she didn’t even know she had.

Brain-based research is revolutionizing teaching and learning. We have learned more about the brain in the past two decades than in all recorded history. However, all that knowledge is useless unless you know how to apply it. Learn how to implement brain-based theory in your own staff training and watch comprehension and follow-through improve.

Did you know that experts are noticing an increase in eating disorders among middle-aged and older people? The Remuda Ranch, a treatment center for females with eating disorders in Phoenix is seeing more middle-aged and senior women with such problems for the first time. The center gives the following reasons for the rise in eating disorders among this age group:
a dramatic increase in youth consciousness compared
to 20 years ago

For the third straight year, athletic footwear sales have increased, according to the Sporting Goods Manufacturers Association (SGMA) International’s 2003 edition of The Athletic Footwear Market Today, a trade publication that tracks retail spending trends. American consumers spent almost $16 billion on athletic shoes in 2002, an increase of 2.5 percent over the previous year. Here are some other trends reported by SGMA:

Fear of failure stops many people from exercising or trying new activities. According to David E. Conroy, PhD—assistant professor of kinesiology and director of the sport psychology lab at Pennsylvania State University, University Park—they may specifically fear the shame and embarrassment that come with failure. They may be afraid that they won’t fulfill their ideal self-image. The thought of not doing well at exercise may make them anxious that they are not as competent as they believed and lower their self-esteem.

Almost everyone you talk to these days is concerned with their health and wants to look and feel better, so why are obesity rates skyrocketing among both children and adults? Despite our best efforts, the fitness community has not been able to inspire the sedentary masses to embrace a healthier lifestyle.